There is some controversy about his support for the environmental organisation Keren Kayemet Le Israël (KKL). The foundation is the largest land owner in the country. According to le Soir, the organisation is 'Zionistic' and tries to create green zones in areas where there used to be Palestinian settlements.

Belgian foreign affairs minister Didier Reynders allowed the visit, aslong as the contacts of the prince are 'private' and there will be no meetings with politicians.

Eva Brems (Green party) discussed the matter in the federal parlament. She said that the Jewish National Fund is aproblematic organisation. She added that planting trees can not be done when it violates human rights.
Reynders defended the prince, others have done the same: king Boudewijn, prince Filip, Yves Leterme, Reynders himself, Kris Peeters, Winston Churchill, Angela Merkel, Tony Blair, Nicolas Sarkozy etc. To do what? To plant a tree within the borders of 1967.

On today's World ALS Day 2013 Prince Laurent has attended the opening of the residence 'Middelpunt' of the association ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Liga Belgie in Middelkerke. It's the first residence care for ALS patients in Belgium.

Prince Laurent attended the funeral ceremony for Yves du Monceau de Bergendal in Louvain-la-Neuve on August 1, 2013. Du Monceau de Bergendal had once been mayor of Ottignies, senator and chamber member.

Laurent and Claire attended a reception organized by the Royal Federation of Surveyors-Experts on the occasion of its 80th anniversary at the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren today, September 19.
Princess Claire was awarded the title of Honorary Member of the Royal Federation of Surveyors-Experts.